"You can think of it like a tree. The nanowires are the trunk, very good at transporting electrons, like sap, but limited in surface area," explained Xiaolin Zheng, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. "The added nanoparticle decorations, as we call them, are like the branches and leaves, which fan out and greatly increase the surface area."

Zheng dipped the nanowires in a solvent-based gel of metal and salt, then air-dried them before applying a quick burst of flame. In the process, the solvent burns in a few seconds, allowing the all-important nanoparticles to crystalize into branch-like structures fanning out from the nanowires. Zheng and her team have dubbed the technique the sol-flame method.

Question of the Week

This week's Question: In recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into space ventures. SpaceX, an advanced spacecraft manufacturer founded by Elon Musk, has completed more than 30 successful launches since 2006, delivered...